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-Famtasia emulation -Door glitch programming error -Damage taken only when appropriate to save time or when can't be prevented (magical door creatures) -Single item run (Maru Mari)
-We all know of the difficulty Metroid ordinarily presents, so imagine the difficulty collecting only one item throughout the game. I've gone through many trial versions of the run, including using death to save time and other tricks (Wall walking in Kraid's lair instead of taking the "long way" around), but I think I'm pleased with this final version. Although I am not as solid at timing jumps as Arc, I've still managed to pull off the complete run in under 22 minutes. Ridley, unfortunately, is optimized and takes quite a while with the default gun, but Kraid falls quickly. From the get-go, the run has been etched in stone as: Collect Maru Mari, defeat Ridley, defeat Kraid, defeat Mother Brain, escape Tourain. This isn't negotiable, as there is a missle door in front of Kraid's hideout and I am only permitted to collect missles from bosses.
The run basically mimics Red Scarlet's two item run from metroid2002.com, save collecting the ice beam and spending a bit more time in Kraid's lair (and a bit more of perfection).
Sometimes (especially in Tourain with the Rinkas), I had to duck or pause a moment or "ball-up" before I entered a door to ensure survival from magical door creatures or something appearing from the other side. This, and a couple of item drops, is pretty much the only "luck" manipulation I used.
I gave myself a simple rule in Tourain - it's okay to shoot the metroids with no effect as long as I hit them. Even at 20% speed, the metroids have little predictability as far as their movements and sometimes a shot will back them off and sometimes they just keep coming. I had to jump in the lava both times to get the higher ground and just took what I was given - just one touch from them and they've got you. The lag, unfortunately, is inevitable.
And last, although I'm pleased, the ending missile count (zero) was a bit nerve racking - the Zebetites are a bit "random" as far as shots. The re-record count is more than 50% in Tourain (don't laugh - the metroids are extremely fast).
And that's about it.

Bisqwit: If this submission is obsoleted by your newer submission, you should cancel this.
Bisqwit: No reaction - rejecting this movie.


Editor, Active player (297)
Joined: 3/8/2004
Posts: 7469
Location: Arzareth
Forget the manual, but the point was that if the trick was intentionally created for easing the debugging of the game, it shouldn't be used for a movie that is about playing the game. This applies to the 2nd-controller tricks in Mega Man 3, for example. Game restart sequences - even death - are generally ok in my opinion. It's of course always better, if those don't even need to be used, like how Walker Boh did when he reduced the number of deaths in the short Rygar movie.
Former player
Joined: 9/26/2004
Posts: 217
feitclub wrote:
More important is improving the Ridley battle (and maybe Kraid, if possible). the UP+A debate can rage on in the meantime.
Well, it's clear that most people had a problem with the entire movie up to Tourian, so I am (*sigh*) doing it again. Unfortunately, there's still that lingering UP+A argument. So far, what I've gotten from everyone is: - Don't use it - it breaks the flow of the movie. - Use it - it saves time. - Don't use it - it's not in the spirit of the game. - Use it - no other movie here does. - Don't use it - no other movie here does. There are many arguments here, but I think the best perspective so far is:
Michael Fried wrote:
I think Up+A should be used. Remember that this won't be any kind of official record so you don't have to follow the same rules as most speed runners. Just do whatever is most entertaining, and I don't find watching someone going through the same area over and over entertaining.
This is more of a technical demonstration than a time-attack run. It is possible to take down Arc's run using UP+A, but I think most people would look down on that notion. But in this case, it seems more prudent to use it. Another quote:
Highness wrote:
Well.. I think we all have seen the back tracking alot latley. Enough to get bored by it.
I agree, but I'm still not sure. And as torn as I've been by it all, I think this type of run is a bit more appropriate using it. The Zelda II run was actually not as enticing for me with the use of UP+A and the other two Metroid runs here would certainly not be as pretty using it, but this isn't a matter of "can he do it without using UP+A fast," as much as "can he pull this off." The UP+A is a bit inconsequential in my opinion and I was going to use it, but I think I'll stick to the original plan. It's not that much back-tracking anyway.
Former player
Joined: 4/16/2004
Posts: 1286
Location: Finland
I say use it. You're trying to do it as fast as possible, right? Since there is no actual playing skill involved, I don't see a reason why you should have to backtrack "manually" instead of using UP+A. It makes it shorter(= more entertaining) and IMO it also looks more skillful. After all, using UP+A is a strategic decision even if it's not a difficult one.
Joined: 3/29/2004
Posts: 224
I'll agree that backtracking isn't very fun to watch. I'm all for Up+A.
Editor, Reviewer, Experienced player (980)
Joined: 4/17/2004
Posts: 3109
Location: Sweden
Same same. I thought we were outnumbered but now it almost seems the other way around.
Former player
Joined: 9/26/2004
Posts: 217
Kyrsimys wrote:
It makes it shorter(= more entertaining) and IMO it also looks more skillful. After all, using UP+A is a strategic decision even if it's not a difficult one.
If this were the case, someone would have taken down Arc's time a while ago using UP+A. But, it seems a little split - would 2 runs and a vote be prudent here? I've gone most of the repaired run without it, but...
Former player
Joined: 6/27/2004
Posts: 550
Location: New York
Bisqwit has said he'd prefer having as few movies as possible for each game, and with the different levels of completions plus having the glitch used in each would mean 6 different movies of the game, which is why I think it should stay consistent. If this was the first metroid run, I'd say UP+A should be used, but again I think it would be best if they stayed consistent. If somebody plans on improving the other two movies using UP+A, then I'd say it should be fine for this one.
Editor, Reviewer, Experienced player (980)
Joined: 4/17/2004
Posts: 3109
Location: Sweden
>If this were the case, someone would have taken down Arc's time a while ago using UP+A. Not neccesarily. It's easy to get a better time, but not to play as exact as Arc did. It's easy to get rejected because of worse playing quality. About how you should do - two runs is a lot of work. I'd say do the one you like better.
Former player
Joined: 9/26/2004
Posts: 217
My point was that Kyrsimys said faster=more entertaining, and I agree that's not always true. As I said, if that were the case, someone would have beaten Arc's speed-run long ago using the reset, but I think it would get rejected out of hand because it wouldn't be played as well. And even if it was, it would be looked upon as an obvious abuse of the game ("Of course you got a faster time - you used UP+A.") I'm going without it. The main reason is because you can't just UP+A and go back to the beginning. You must go up the elevator and use it to get to the beginning of the previous level. As I've said, defeat Ridley, Pause, UP+A, restart, go up the elevator until the music changes, Pause, UP+A, restart, go up the elevator, Pause, UP+A, restart...then do it again once defeating Kraid. It's a bit annoying and seriously breaks the flow.